Routine Prenatal Care: First Trimester

The Challenge

Despite the dramatic and vulnerable changes that the conceptus undergoes in the first 14 weeks of gestation, many patients are unaware of their pregnancy or delay seeking prenatal care. Evidence suggests that it is during this period the foundations of a successful pregnancy and even the future health of the adult individual are set. Although most pregnant women would deliver healthy infants without any prenatal care, obstetric care is designed to promote optimal health throughout the course of normal pregnancy while screening for and managing any complications that may develop.

• Scope of the Problem: Approximately one-fourth of pregnant women do not receive care during the first trimester.

• Objectives of Management: To protect the health and well-being of mother and fetus.